170 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS. 



With the consent of the Hon. Minister of Agriculture, I had the pleasure of pre- 

 paring for the Hon. J. H. Ross, a Bulletin on the Worst Weeds of the North-west 

 Territories. This bulletin of 29 pages and containing many illustrations, has been 

 widely distributed and has been received with favour by North-west farmers. 



While in Manitoba in the beginning of July, and again on 16th August, I had an 

 opportunity of investigating an occurrence of the Rocky Mountain Locust. The out- 

 break had been referred to in several newspapers, and there was much anxiety among 

 farmers. I was pleased to be able to detect a great many parasites and to explain 

 through the newspapers the true state of affairs; at the same time farmers in the infested 

 district were advised what should be done to avoid a recurrence of the injuries 

 experienced this year. 



I returned to Ottawa on 20th August. On the 8th September I attended a 

 meeting at Toronto of the new Canadian Horticultural Society, and delivered an address 

 on fungous diseases and insect pests. The 7th and 8th of November were spent at 

 Lachute and Ste. Therese examining the progress of grass experiments, and on the 9th 

 November I attended the annual meeting of the Entomological Society of Ontario in 

 Montreal. 



Acknowledgments. — I am under many obligations to kind friends and scientific 

 specialists for much assistance. Mention must first of all be made of my colleagues, 

 Prof. John Macoun, and Mr. W. H. Harrington, of Ottawa, also of Rev. Dr. Bethune 

 of Port Hope, Ont., for valuable help on many occasions, as well as of the following who 

 have extended many courtesies and furnished me with their invaluable publications ; — 



Dr. L. 0. Howard, United States Entomologist, and his staff at Washington, D.C; 

 Dr. J. B. Smith, of New Brunswick, New Jersey ; Professor W. G. Johnson, of College 

 Park, Md.; and Professor T. D. A. Cockerell, of Mesilla Park, N. Mex., for special 

 identification of insects ; Professor L. R. Jones, of Burlington, Vt., and Mr. J. 

 Dearness, of London, Ont., for the identification of many plants and fungous diseases. 

 I must again thank my kind friend. Miss E. A. Ormerod, for her continued interest in 

 our work and much valuable advice always freely given. 



In conclusion, I beg again to acknowledge the great help I receive continuously in 

 all branches of the work of the Division from my assistant, Mr. J. A. Guignard, B.A. 



I have the honour to be, sir. 



Your obedient servant, 



JAMES FLETCHER, 



Entomologist and Botanist. 



